Home renovation grant

The Home Renovation Allowance - also known as the Home Renovation Allowance - is a non-repayable state subsidy that can be claimed for renovation or modernisation work on the property you live in. Importantly, it is an ex-post grant, i.e. payments are made in arrears on the basis of invoices submitted for the work carried out - cost of materials, labour.

The aid is granted to expecting or raising at least one child - spouses or life partners who are resident in the same country can apply jointly as joint claimants. This means that single people can also apply for the home renovation allowance, without the need to be married. (Unlike, for example, the Baby Allowance, which is only available to married couples.)

It counts as a child:

• The claimant's unborn child after the 12th week of pregnancy and his/her dependent child by blood or adoption who has not yet reached the age of 25.
• The claimant's child over the age of 25 if the child is disabled.
• A relative of the claimant who is a minor, if the claimant is the appointed guardian due to the death of the child's parents.

• The home renovation grant is available for the following construction activities:
  • Water, sewerage, electricity and gas utilities can be introduced into the property, and the internal network of these can be built or replaced.
  • A bathroom or toilet may be installed in a dwelling that does not have one.
  • Heating system can be designed, upgraded or replacedincluding the use of renewable energy sources.
  • Insulation of the building, including plinth insulation, thermal, acoustic and waterproofing works can be carried out.
  • External windows and doors can be replaced, but the installation or replacement of roller blinds, shades, shutters, trellises, insect nets, security grilles is also eligible.
  • Replacement or renovation of sills, thresholds can also be carried out.
  • Even the entire roof can be replaced, renovated or insulated.
  • Construction and upgrading of a flue gas drainage system.
  • Installation and replacement of air conditioning.
  • The money can also be used to install or replace solar panels, solar photovoltaic systems.
  • The interior can also be renovated: replacing, renovating, painting, wallpapering.
  • A gallery can be built with public money.
  • Interior staircase design, replacement.
  • Installation or replacement of sanitary ware.
  • Design and replacement of electrical switches and sockets.
  • Installation, replacement or renovation of interior windows, interior sills, thresholds.
  • The renovation of a building or non-residential premises (in particular: summer kitchen, laundry room, storage room) located on the same parcel as the dwelling may also be carried out.
  • A fence can be built.
    Construction of a vehicle storage or open car park.
  • Construction of terrace, loggia, balcony, canopy.
  • Pavement construction and replacement.
  • A conservatory can also be created.
  • If the claimant or his/her child is a person with reduced mobility, the accessibility works specified in Article 9(10) of Government Decree 12/2001 (31.I.) may also be financed retroactively.
  • The foundation of the existing building can be reinforced.
  • Installation or replacement of built-in furniture or kitchen appliances.

The claimant - or one of the partners in the case of married couples or life partners - must have at least 1 year of continuous social security entitlement. The 1-year period of entitlement counts:

• a legal relationship according to § 6 of the Tbj Act - a public employment relationship (public work) is not accepted for the last 180 days;
• full-time studies at a higher education institution;
• employment in addition to a pension;
• the foreign social security status and
• the period of graduate GYED.

However, it is important to note that the applicant must be insured under Article 6 of the Social Insurance Act (Tbj) - public employment is not sufficient - and employment while receiving a pension is also acceptable.

In other words, it is suitable if you have worked abroad but already have Hungarian social security status. Moreover, in the case of multiple claimants, it is also acceptable if one of the claimants is currently working abroad, but in this case the other claimant must fulfil the requirement of having a social security status.

Among others, they are considered insured persons under § 6 of the Social Insurance Act:

• Those who are employed.
• Members of the cooperative who are personally involved in the activities of the cooperative (in the framework of an employment relationship, a contractor's relationship or a relationship of commission).
• Persons receiving job-seeker's allowance (unemployment benefit).
• Sole proprietors and partners.
  Persons working under a contract of employment (monthly remuneration must be 30% of the minimum wage).
• Persons in ecclesiastical service.
• Smallholder farmers.
• Full-time small traders.
• Persons employed as public project evaluators (monthly remuneration must be 30% of the minimum wage).
• The wife of the President of the Republic.
• Persons working abroad who are considered Hungarian insured persons under Community regulations or agreements between two countries.

No aid may be claimed for a previously assisted dwelling unless the previous claimant has sold all of his/her property at the time of claiming. In this case, the new owner - if he/she is not a relative of the previous owner - can reapply for the home renovation grant for the dwelling in question.

The claimant and his/her minor child - or, in the case of a joint claim, the claimants together or their minor children - must jointly own at least 50% of the housing covered by the subsidy. This means that up to 50% can be owned by other persons.

People living in properties with several flats in shared ownership are not excluded, but the applicant's occupancy agreement or court judgement for the part of the property covered by the aid will also be examined

• The invoices must be in the name of the claimant or, in the case of joint claimants, one of them.
• The invoice must be issued and paid on or after 1 January 2021.
• The invoices must include the cost of materials for the construction activities and the design, construction and installation work related to the renovation under the contract.
• For invoices paid by bank transfer, the payment must be supported by documentary evidence.
• The home renovation grant can be claimed within 60 days of the completion of construction work on the dwelling and payment of the invoices. In the case of multiple invoices, the last payment date will be used to calculate the claim deadline.

A contract may only be concluded with a contractor that is registered at the time of the conclusion of the contract in the register of operating taxpayers kept by the State Tax Authority.

What has already been settled with a csok subsidy can no longer be taken into account for the housing renovation subsidy!

Invoices that have already been settled by the claimant in connection with the family home creation allowance for the dwelling concerned by the renovation are not acceptable

• for the purchase and modernisation of a second-hand dwelling, or for the modernisation and extension of a dwelling;
• or for the modernisation, renovation or extension of an existing dwelling.

The aid can be applied for until 31 December 2022 at the latest, by which date the necessary documents must be submitted or posted. The application may be submitted once only, but the maximum period of 30 days for submitting a complete application does not count towards the deadline.

Applications for aid will be assessed by the Treasury (MÁK) within 30 days of the date of receipt, in the order in which they are received. The MÁK will pay the aid into the applicant's domestic payment account within 5 days of the issue of the grant award certificate.